Spring is finally here, although you wouldn't know it if you live in New England like I do. It is still bitterly cold outside and we've even had a few flurries today. I anxiously await the warmer weather. To get both myself and my readers into a cheery Spring mood, I am excited to be participating in the "Spring Into Spring" giveaway event sponsored by Famous Free Samples, sister site of Tip Hero, featuring some fabulous blogs and a wonderful opportunity to be the winner of a great prize!

To
celebrate the start of Spring, we are offering one lucky
reader the chance to win a $150 Target gift card to use however they'd
like! Whether you'd like to stock up on some spring apparel, decorate
your home to match the season, or prepare your outdoor space for the warm weather , we are sure this great prize could come in handy!

Giveaway
This
giveaway is open to residents of the United States and Canada, 18+ and will run from March 21, 2013 to April 4, 2013 at 11:59pm
US Eastern time. Please use the PromoSimple
form AT THE VERY BOTTOM of this post to enter this giveaway. Be sure to take advantage of the
array of entries you can gain, and also, come back daily for even more
chances to win. Good luck!$150 Target Gift CardYou need to enable javascript to enter this campaign !Powered by PromoSimple.

Wednesday, March 20, 2013

When I first got my iPhone over two years ago, I vowed to never let my children touch it. I'm not sure how long I stuck to that, but with four kids it was inevitable that I would cave. Especially once I got my iPad, since I can still play on that while they play with my phone. Now I have a folder on my iPhone with kids games for them and it has proven to be a life saver with my three year old. Especially when out shopping and running errands. So I like to have fun and educational games on there for him.

Pilo 3: An Interactive Children's Story Book - 3D Animation - Cooking Game has been great for him. This iOS app is a combination of storybook and games where children follow the story of Pilo, a cute pillow doll. As the 3D animation story progresses, the player is presented with interactive mini-games such as matching shapes, slicing fruit, decorating a cake and more. Once the task is complete, you can than continue on with the story.

These mini-games proved to be perfect for my three year old. They were easy enough for him to quickly understand what to do while being challenging enough to keep him engaged. I think his favorite part was building a train and then catching stars with it while speeding down the tracks. And as much as he enjoys playing the games, he likes watching the story just as much. Your child can even have some fun picking out an outfit for Pilo. We tend to favor the Batman shirt ourselves.

Overall, we were both pleased with this app. It provided my son with some fun and educational game play while providing mom with a little bit of quiet time.

Monday, March 18, 2013

For Christmas, my husband completely surprised me with an iPad 4. It's ironic that the man who complains about all of my technology and gadgets would buy me yet another one. He's probably regretting it now. The first thing I knew I needed to do was get a good case for it. I don't let my kids use my iPad, I'm selfish like that, but I did want it to be protected just in case their little hands get on it. But it also needs protection from me and typical use. As soon as I saw The Snugg iPad 4 Case I knew it would be perfect for me.

The Snugg iPad 4 Case is available in 10 colors and I chose to go with the Electric Blue because I loved how bright the color is. Although I do wish they made it in purple. Getting my iPad situated in the case was very easy and took only a few seconds. The velcro holds it nice and tight in there and after several weeks of use, my iPad hasn't shifted even a little.

It may seem silly, but one of my favorite features is the stylus holder. I tend to misplace things and my 3 year old tends to run off with things, so this feature let me keep my stylus right on my case so I don't lose it. The two-position stand is great for when I'm catching up on my TV shows or even when I need to look at a recipe while cooking. The Snugg iPad 4 case automatically puts your iPad 4 into Sleep mode when the cover is closed and when you open the cover again, your iPad will Wake by itself.

Overall, I am extremely pleased with this case and I am glad that I chose it for my iPad. For a very affordable price you get a functional and stylish case to protect your iPad.

Buy
The Snugg iPad 4 Case is available to purchase at www.thesnugg.com or Amazon.com and starts around $34.99.

With a case like this, I highly recommend you pick up a screen protector for your iPad screen to prevent it from getting scratched while you use it. These protectors are high transparency so you really barely even notice that they are on. The 2-pack is available for $14.99.

Please note that the opinions and views expressed in this review are my own and based on my personal experience with the product and/or company. You may encounter a different experience with this than I did. I received free product to review.

Sunday, March 17, 2013

If you have figured out by now, I am somewhat of a geek. I love Star Wars and Superheroes and of course, The Lord of the Rings. The Lord of the Rings trilogy are some of my favorite movies and I was really excited when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released in theaters this past December. Unfortunately, I never made it to the theater to see it. I have been anxiously awaiting the DVD/Blu-ray release and that time is finally here. Tomorrow, on March 19, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be available on Blu-ray combo pack and mine is already on pre-order!

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Sorcerers.
Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Are you as excited for this as I am? While you wait for yours to arrive, have some fun with the blog app below. You can take the Are You 100% Hobbit Quiz, learn about the Creatures of Middle Earth and download The Hobbit Handbook.

Giveaway
One (1) winner will receive The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Blu-ray Combo Pack. This giveaway is open to US residents only and will end on April 1, 2013. Please use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

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